From rallies to class reunion, there's support for Bush

ANOTHER VIEW

October 08, 2004|By Pamela D. Varkony Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

Reflecting on the dizzying pace of this past week is to look through a kaleidoscope and see shifting images of politics, patriotism and lives well-lived, all tumbling into each other.

From the crowd gathered in Lehigh Parkway in Allentown, it was hard to tell the pundits and the pols had declared John Kerry the victor in the previous night's nationally televised presidential debate.

Along the Little Lehigh Creek, under an azure sky, the faithful came by the thousands. Like an old-time camp meeting, families with small children spread out blankets on the grass. Busloads of kids from a Bible School used the wet grass as an excuse to slide down the slippery slopes. Young couples held hands as they walked the bridle path toward the stage.

Several dozen John Kerry supporters at the entrance to the park chanted, "Four more weeks!" The taunt was answered tenfold by "Four more years!" In what can only be described as orderly chaos, throngs of people stood in lines to be searched before going through metal detectors. Many had walked a mile or more from their cars.

Like planets revolving around the sun, local politicians took turns at the podium. U.S. congressional candidate for the 15th District, Charlie Dent, spoke of President Bush as if they were friends. The man Dent hopes to replace, U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, delivered the real red meat to the crowd, listing reasons to re-elect President Bush.

Between the speakers at the podium, a band played country classics such as "Ring of Fire" and "Working Man Blues." The toe-tapping rhythms couldn't soothe the egos of the big donors for whom there was no space remaining in the too-small reserved seating section.

A middle-aged woman from Bethlehem with "Christians for Bush" on her T-shirt, said, "I love him. He has good moral values. I'm praying for him to continue to be our president for the good of my grandchildren." In response to the President's first debate, she said, "No matter what happened, he's still my hero." A woman standing nearby leaned into the conversation and said, "It worries me, because I think it (the debate) went the other way."

Any disappointment dissipated the moment the President appeared. Looking rested and confident, George Bush bounded onto the stage with Sen. John McCain.

Every hot topic was addressed, every constituency covered. As each point hit its mark, the related campaign signs appeared above the crowd; Doctor's For Bush, Veterans For Bush, Seniors for Bush sportsmen, farmers, women, each heard their own rallying cry. But the loudest roar of approval reverberated when the President said, "I can give you lots of reasons to put me back in office, but probably the best one is to keep Laura as First Lady."

As the 40-minute speech came to a close, several balloons, tied together and carrying a "Bush-Cheney '04" sign drifted into the cloudless sky...an "Arizona kind of day," John McCain called it. As the Christians for Bush group started to walk away, they looked up as if to see if anyone up there was watching.

There was no cloudless sky for the "Support Our Troops Rally" in Macungie on Saturday. The day was cool, damp and gray, but by afternoon, more than 1,000 people had come to watch the entertainment, complete with beautiful girls and a Bob Hope impressionist. The vendor selling magnetic versions of yellow ribbons for car bumpers was doing a brisk business.

Children were climbing a towering rock wall brought by the Army Rangers for training, and World War II re-enactors, in full combat gear, drew wistful glances from those who looked old enough to have worn the uniform. As my volunteer shift ended, and I headed toward my car, I heard my name from far away. Peering through the crowd, I saw an old friend from high school, home for our class reunion. A veteran of the Vietnam War, as are so many of our generation, he had come to the park to honor those who now serve.

The Quakertown High School Class of 1964 looked relaxed and prosperous there was a little more flesh and a lot less hair, but the smiles remained recognizable. After 40 years, the cliques had dissipated into one homogenous group that was genuinely glad to see each other. Oh, some things did stay the same; the "class stud" was there sans wife, trying to work his charms on the middle-age divorcees, and there were a few whispers about who owned the Jaguar in the parking lot. But for the most part, there was no time for pettiness or jealousy. Time is something we now realize is precious. Photos of grandchildren and discussions of retirement options circulated freely. As the day wound down and the conversations became quieter and more reflective, the focus turned to the upcoming election. One person mentioned the debate; another said they wished they had gotten to see President Bush. Slowly, opinions emerged, positions staked out.

Although there were as many viewpoints as there were people, it soon became clear that these first representatives of the Baby Boom generation, these people with whom I had shared pimples and Popsicles, in great measure, support the president. They see in him the same basic values and uncompromising principles with which they have lived their lives.

Pamela D. Varkony of Allentown does commentary on public radio and is a former member of Allentown City Council. Her e-mail address is Pamela@SpectrumGlobal.net.

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"...these first representatives of the Baby Boom generation, these people with whom I had shared pimples and Popsicles, in great measure, support the President."